Boiler-tube-cleaning apparatus



E. HATHAWAY BOILER' TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS Aug. 3 1926.

Filed Jan. 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTO# P1 mrow/vz Aug. 3 1926.

E. HATHAWAY BOILER TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jah. s, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

Unirse sraras Env'rno- Hari-ranma,

essere OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

sotterranee-ersehnte aernnn'rus.

Application iled January My invention is an improvement in scale removers and relates more particularly to. devices of that class employed to remove the scale from boiler tubes or the like.

rin object of my invention is to construct a device of the character mentioned whereby substantially the entire tube area within the boiler may be subjected to the action ofthe scale removing toolV while the tubes are in their natural position.

Another object of my invention is to con* struct a device of the above named character, in which a compact portable mechanism is employed whereby the tool may be shifted from one row of tubes to the next without the necessity l of removing the apparatus from the boiler.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the descrip tion of an embodiment thereof progresses, reference being made herein. to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings: y Y, n

Fig. 1 is a side elevation'of a portion of the interior of a boiler showing my apparatus in operating` position upon the tubes.

Fig. 2 is plan view of the apparatus shown in position between adjacent rows of tubes. Y

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the apparatus showing` the rear supporting rollers.

Fig. 4 is a` section taken on line 4 4 of Fier. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. G is a side view of the forward end of my apparatus showing,` the auxiliary frame raised to a substantially horizontal position.

A' Fig. 7 is a detail of a modified form of tool used in connection with my apparatus, and,

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another form of my invention showing a compressed fluid power plant.

ln the drawings:

rllhe base plate 1 of a main supporting frame is provided with side irons 2 bolted or riveted thereon and extending preferably beyond the forward end of the plate 1. kAn electric motor or other source of power 3 ssecure'dto the Asupporting base 1 at the s, 192e. serial No. 30,015.

rearward end thereof by bolts et. Vln Fig. 8 l vhave shown an air cylinder and piston as lthe power source. The motor shaft 5, Figs. 1 and 2 extends forwardly of the frame on which the motor is mounted, and is supportedat its forward end in a suitable bearingv 6 carried within an arm of a transmission casing 7. l/Vhen the air cyl* inder is used as in Fig. 8, the connecting rod 7 a lis connected to transmit reciprocating;- motion directly to the slide 21. The shaft 5, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a lrn'urled shaft rotating nut 8 to provide means for rotating the shaft by hand when desired. Keyed to the forward end of the shaft 5 is a beveled gear 9 which is housed within the casing 7 and meshes with a second beveled gear 1()` lreyed to and rotatably with a shaft 11. rEhe shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 12 within the casing 7. The casing .7 may be constructed of complementary sections 7 and 7 secured together as shown in Fig. 1, the casing sections having aligned openings to receive suitable bearings and the ends of the shaft 11. Keyed to one end of the shaftllV androtatable therewith exteriorly ofthe casing 7 is an eccentric 13 whichis provided with a crank pin 111. A. connecting rod is connected at one end to the pin 14 and is held in place thereupon by means of a suitable nut or the like 16. The other end Vof the connectingrod 15 is preferably screw threaded as at 17 to receive the threaded end of an adjustable fork shaped member 18. rlhe arms 19 of the fork shaped member are each provided with aligned openings through which a pinl 20 is adapted to pass to pivotally secure therebetween an end of a slide member 21.

rlhe slide member 21 ispreferably slotted of the upturned end walls of the slot carries a pin 25 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. Theslide member 21 is movable in aligned depressions formed in opposite ends of a casing 26. A cover plate 27 is adapted to be secured to the casing 26 by any suitable means such as screws 28 which may be screwed into openings 29 formed in the cover 27 and the casing,` 26. The casing 26 extends rearwardly and downwardly providing suitable housing, bearing `rio and supporting means for the gear 30 and a shaft 31. An oil cup or other lubricating device 32 may be threaded into the casing tocommunicate with che interior thereof to supply lubricant to the bearing surfaces.

To the respective forward ends of the members 2 are secured uprights 33 by any suitable means such as rivets 34. Braces 33 are also secured tothe members 2 andk uprights 33 by the rivets 34. These uprights 33 are provided with aligned threaded openings in their respective` upper ends for `receiving removable bearing pins or the like 35. The facing ends of each of the pins form pivotal supporting and bearing means for the respective yoke members 36. This structure is more clearly shownin Figs, 4 and 5, the abutting ends of the yoke members 36 are secured together between substantally parallel auxiliary frame members 37 by means of bolts orrivets 38. The re spectfive forward ends of ythe frame members 37 are flanged outwardly as at 39. A. casing supporting arm 40 which is formed as an extension ofthe casing 26, is iianged atn40, theflanges 40` abutting the oppositely disposed flanges 39 of the members 37, and is provided with openings in alignment with openings in the lianges to receive securing bolts 41.

The supporting yframe 1 and 2 is provided at its `rear end with suitable rollers 42 which `Aare rotatable upon a shaft 43 suspended from the base 2- by suitable supports 44. Collars 42 are also carried by the shaft 43 and may be locked in desired axial spaced relations by means of set screws, to limit thev relative axial movement of the rollers 42. The forward end of the base is supported by rollers 45 which are `loosely mounted on shafts 46 suspended below the base by means of bracket arms 47. The rollers 45 are also movable axially of each other for adjusting themselves to properly engage the spaced tube surfaces.` One of the bracket arms supporting each of the rollers is secured to the upright 33 and the side iron 2 by means of rivets 34. The other brackets supporting the rollers 45 are secured directly tothe side irons 2 by rivets 34.

It will be seen therefore I have provided suitable means whereby `my device may be movably supported upon the boiler tubes 43, so Vthatl the entire apparatus may be moved longitudinally along the tubes upon which it is supported. It will alsobe seen that by the provision of rollers which may rotate about their axes in various axialiy spaced relations determined by the distance between the boiler tubes upon which they travel, the apparatus may be movably supportedwithin various types of boilers wherein th'e'tubes are kspaced at various distances.

By referringparticularly to Figs. 1 `and `-3, `it "will'ibe seen "thathavc provided a means for preventinglateral displacement of theapparatus with respect to the tubes 48 which consists of a'slotted bar 49 movably suspended beneath the plate 1 by a removable pin 50. This bar 49 may be suspendedA from the pin 50 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which position it will extend downwardly between adjacent rows of tubes upon which the apparatus is supported, sufliciently to prevent undue lateral movement of the apparatus upon the tubes. lhen it is desired to remove the bar `from this position and support the same beneath the plate 1 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, kthis is accomplished by gripping the end 51 of the bar and swinging the same rearwardly and upwardly about the pin 50 asa pivot and then exerting a forward force upon the end of the bar, so that the end 52 will be projected .forwardly between the plate 1 andthe shaft y43. Inthis manner the shaft 43 serves to supportthe bar 49 when the latter is not in use. v

riny auxiliary tool carrying frame composed of substantially parallel top frame members 37, a rear frame member 55 and substantially parallel bottom frame members 56, is pivotally suspended from the main framebyv means of the coactingyoke members 36 which are pivotally secured to the top frame members 37 as shown in Fig. 5. A movable tool carrying rod 57 extends longitudinally and Vis forwardly of the frame, its lower end being seated in a bearing 5S formed at the forward end of the members 56 and its upper end 57 extending into the downwardly projecting bearing member 58 of the casing 26. The rod is free to oscillate in the bearingsv and is provided at its extreme upper end with a gear 30 keyed thereto, s o that motion imparted to the gear BOwvill cause movement of the rod 57. Ajhammer like tool 60, which is preferably formed as shown in Figures l and 4 is slidably mounted on the rod 57. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of tool 6l wherein the tool is provided with but two work engaging surfaces 62 and 63, each -surface having actual scale removing contact throughout approximately 180o of the circumference of each of adjacent boiler tubes, while the tool shown in Figs. 1 and W4 is provided with four work engaging surfaces, each adapted to engage approximately 90 3 ofeach of adjacent tube circumferences. The tool illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 is capable of removing scale at a maxi mum from portions of the'surfaces of .four -tubes simultaneously, while the tool shown in Fig. 7 is capable of vremoving scale from portions of they surfaces of but two tubes simultaneously. It will be noted that inthe use` of either tool, the tube .surface engaged or. cleaned-by the--ttol lsapproxim'ately the saine, ksince the combined working surface of each tool is approximately 360o.. By the use of such tools I am enabled to more completely clean the outer tube surfaces.

Each of the tools and 61 is constructed preferably as shown, each being composed of two sheets of similarly shaped metal riveted together as at 64;; lt is obvious, though, that l may construct tools using but a single sheet of metal or other material, or l may use morethan two sheets of material depending on the material used and the degree of rigidity desired in the tool. A central longitudinal opening 65 of greater diameter than the rod 57 is formed in the tool to permit tree movement of the tool along the rod. A cross section through the rod and tool is preferably rectangular in shape or it may take any other polygonal shape whereby only free axial movement ot the tool is obtained. lt will be seen ythat oscillation of the gear 36 will impart similar movement to the tool.

As explained above, the gear 36 is secured to the upper end of the rod 57 and is en'- closed within the casing 26. A rack bar 66 is provided with teeth 67 arranged on its inner face in meshing engagement with the gear 30. The rack bar 66 is secured to a plate 68 in any Suitable manner and is movable therewith, the plate being slidable in a recess 69 formed in the edges of the casing 26. An apertured lug 70 is formed on the' plate approximately centrally of the outer surface thereof, and carries a spring retaining pin 71 locked within the aperture, the

lug and pin extending into the slot 22 and substantially longitudinally thereof. The pins 25 and 71 are all in substantial alignment as shown in lFig. 2.

l have provided a shock absorbing and resilient driving connection between the rack bar 66 and the sliding plate 21 which consists of coil springs 72 or other cushioning means. One of the springs 72is supported between the lug 70 and the lug 23, the adjacent ends of the pin 71 and oneI of the pins 25 extending into the Vends of the said coil spring. The other spring is supported between the lug 7 O and the lug 241 in a similar manner so that there is relative movement between the plate 21, the pla-te 68 carrying the rack bar 66 and the casing 26.

Then power is transmitted through the connecting rod 15 to reciprocate the plate 21 within the casing 26, this power is transmitted through the springs 71 to the rack bar 66 and thence to the gear 30, thereby imparting an oscillating movement Vto the tool carrying rod 57 Since the speed of the shaft 5 is such that the eccentric 13-is caused -to rotate rapidly, it is evident that the slid-e 21 will be reciprocated in rapid succession. I am enabled, by

the provision of the shock absorbing or resilient connection between the plate 21 and .worin gear to rotate the sprocket 75.

the plate 68, to operate my apparatus at a very high speed, thereby more quickly and more thoroughly and efficiently accomplishing one of the purposes of the apparatus.

have provided means for adjusting vthe tool 66 along the rod 57,'so that it may be adjusted to clean the tubes within. a boiler to any desired depth. rlhe auxiliary frame defined by member 37, 55 and 56 is of sufii cient length that the tool may extend down far enough into the boiler to clean the lowermost tubes therein.

The tool adjusting driving means includes a driving sprocket 75 secured on one end of a shaft 76 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearingsin a casing 77. The shaft 76 is provided with a worm (not shown) which meshes with Y a worm gear (not shown)pformed on shaft 76. A handle l79 is 1Keyed to the sha-ft 78, so that when the handle isoperated to drive the shaft, power will be transmitted through the worm and rllhe casing 77 and the gear assembly just described, is shown in Fig. 5 secured vto one of the yoke members 86 and is movable with the auxiliary frame when the same ismoved about its pivot.v

rllhe tool adjustinfy means includes a chain or the like 60 having short lengths of steel cable 80 spliced to its free ends and secured to opposite ends of the tool as shown at 81, F ig. 1. This chain passes from the top'surface of the tool 6() over a pulley 82 supported between the members ,37, over the driving sprocket 7 5, over pulley 83 also supported between the members 87, and thence downwardly and over pulleys 811 and carried between the lower frame members 56, and upwardly to the under surface of the tool 60 whereit is secured at 81. The short lengths of steel cable 80 serve to provide greater wear resisting qualities when the tool 60is in one or the other of its eX- treme vertical work engaging positions. ll hen the handle 7 9 is turned by the opera-u tor the tool will be `moved up orV down to the desired position between adjacent rows of tubes. The auxiliary frame is capable of being swung from the position shown in Fig. 1, upwardly and forwardly of the main frame about the pins 35 as a center. rlhis is desirable when it is desired to shift the apparatus from one pair of tubes laterally within the boiler to another pair of tubes, or when inserting or withdrawing the apparatus :from the mouth of the boiler 0r when turning the entire apparatus within the boiler.

Before it is possible to swing the auxiliary frame forwardly and upwardly above described, it is necessary that the cen` ters defined by the pin 2O and the pins 85 be in alignment. lf these pins are not in alignment, 4the opera-tor may turn the shaft cel llO

5 by hand by grasping and turning the knurled nut S slightly until the desired condition is established. Then the' auxiliary frame may bei swung. l

l have provided means for locking the auxiliary frame in its vertical or suspended position. Cross braces are secured at various intervals to the under side of the main f`ame to reinforce the frame. The forward brace, indicated at 90 is notched at -91 and 92. A slidable plate 93 is provided with slots 91 adjacent each end and is slidably secured to the plate 1 by means of rivets 95 which pass through the slots in the plate 93, the plate land the brace 90. A

portion of the forward edge of the plate 93 extends outwardly at 96 to form a frame engaging locking member. A locking handle 95 is pivotally supported on the member 96 and `is adapted to engage either of the notches 92 and 91 to lock or unlock the auxiliary frame as the case may be. l/Vhen the plate 93 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 the member 96 will engage aligned notches 9S formed in the rear walls of the members 37 and the handle 97 will be forced into engagement with the walls of the notch 92 by a spring 99, thereby locking the auxiliary frame against forward vertical movement. Then it is desired to permit the auxiliary frame to be swung forwardly and upwardly thel handle 97 is unseated from the notch 92 and the plate 93 is shifted toward the notch 91, whereupon the handle will seat itself therein and the member 96 will be out of the path of contact with the ends of the frame members 87. I have provided a latch arm 100 pivoted between the frame members 37, which engages the teeth of the sprocket 75 as shown in Fig. 1. A suitable spring 101 alsosecured to the frame members $37 has an upturned end 102 which engages a projection 102 on the-latch arm 100 to maintain the arm in engagement with the sprocket teethQ- VVhen-the arm is swung forwardly of the frame 1 this spring engages the seat 103 to securely hold the arm out of operative position. When the arm is in position as shown in Fig. 1, it will prevent backward rotation of the sprocket 75 due to the weight of the tool, 60. j

In operation when it is desired to use the device for cleaning horizontal boiler tubes, the tool G0 may be turned by hand until its arms extend in a plane substantially parallel with the length of the tubesto be cleaned. YThe auxiliary frame is inserted into the mouth of the boiler with the tool 60 in the position just indicated, so that the auxiliary frame will pass downwardly through adjacent rows of boiler tubes. The remainder of the apparatus is kthen passed through the mouth of the boiler and is made to Vrest upon a selected pair of adjacent boiler tubes, the rollers' 42 and permitting ease, Of

movement longitudinally of the tubes. The tool is adjusted for vertical position on the rod 57, so that it is in the proper position to engagev the surface of the tubes to be cleaned. disposed in such position. The tool is adjusted 'vertically by turning the hand crank 79 and causing the chain 80 to travel over the sprocket 75 and the rollers carried by the auxiliary frame until the tool is in the desired position. `When the tool is in the proper position, power is applied by starting the electric motor 3 or other source of power. The slide 21 is caused to reciprocate within the casing 26, thereby alternately compressing each of the springs 72. Power is further trinsmitted through these springs to the lug 70 carried by the plate 68, caus ing the plate and the rack 66 which is attached thereto to reciprocateV and to oscillate the gear 30. The oscillating motion is im- .parted te the gear 30, transmitted to the rod 57 and finally to the tool 60. As the tool oscillates its tube engaging edges, one in contact with the scaly surface of the tubes, andthe other' beating or striking thereagainst, will loosen the scale and cause it to drop between the tubes and to the bottom of the boiler. The tool as shown at 60 is so shaped that its tube engaging edges will contact with four adjacent tubes at one time, thus materially reducing the time in which the tubes may be cleaned and also conserving power and reducing the cost of cleaning. The tool shown in Fig. 7 is adapted to engage but two adjacent tubes simultaneously, but it will be seen that the tube engaging edges ofy this tool cover a greater area than the edges 0f the tool 60. It is obvious therei .fore that either of these tools may be used with the result that approximately the same tube -surface may be cleaned by each in approximately the same time.

As portions of the tubes engaged by the tool are finished, the operator may turn the handle 79 and elevate or lower the tool 60 as desired, thereby presenting additional un- 'cleaned tube surfaces. The same operation is repeated until the tool 60 has cleaned adjacent tube surfaces in a substantially vertical path from the bottom tube to the uppermost tube. As each section is cleaned the device maybe moved along the tubes to clean adjacent sections. When it is desired to move the apparatus to the next adjacent set of tubes, or to swing the apparatusabout to clean the uncleaned tube ends, the tool is again placed so that it points in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthof the tubesv and the auxiliary frame is swung forwardly upwardly toa substantially hori-v zontal plane whereit is free of the tubes. The entire apparatus may then be shifted -to the next setof tubes andthe auxiliary again lowered 'and all theperati'ons As shown in Fig. 1, the tool 60 is llO again repeated. This may be done until all the tubes in the boiler have been cleaned, l lt will be seen that with the novel coustruction which l have disclosed herein, the tubes' within `a horizontal boiler may be almost entirely relieved of the sealy ormation which forms on the outer walls ot the tubes during the operation of the boiler.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement ot parts of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ot the subjoined claims.

llVhat I claim is: Y

1. A boiler tube cleaner or the lile consisting 01' a main trame, power means carried thereby, an auxiliary trame pivoted to and depending from the main frame, a tube engaging tool carried by the auxiliary trame and adjustable thereon, means to adjust said tool in said auxiliary frame, and a shocl: absorbing device carried by the auxiliary tra-ine through which power is transmitted to the tool.

2. A boiler tube cleaner consisting of a main frame, power means carried thereby, an auxiliary tra-me pivoted to and depending from the main frame, a tool carried by the auxiliary trame and adjustable vertically thereon, means to adjust said tool on said i auxiliary trame and afshock absorbing device carried on the auxiliary trame and movable therewith through which power is transmitted from the power device to the tool.

3. A boiler tube cleanerI consisting ot a main trame, power means car-ried thereby, an auxiliary frame pivoted to and depending iroin the main trame, a tool carried by the auxiliary Aframe and adjustable thereon, said tool having substantially arcuate tube engaging surfaces, means to adjust said tool vertically of the auxiliary frame and means to loci; the auxiliary frame in its depending position.

4. A boiler tube cleaner consisting of a main trame, power means carried thereby, an auxiliary trame pivoted to and depending from the main traine, a tool carried by the auxiliary trame and adjustable thereon, means for adjusting said tool on said auxiliary trame, means to lock the auxiliary :trame in its dependingy position and shock absorbing power transmission means carried on said auxiliary frame.

5. A boiler tube cleaner consisting of' a main trame, axially adjustable supporting rollers carried on said main frame and adapted to engage adjacent tube surfaces, power means carried by the main frame, an auxiliary i'raine pivoted to and depending from the main frame, a tool carried by the auxiliary trame and adjustable thereon, means tor adjusting said tool and means for locking said auxiliary trame in its depending position.

(l. A boiler tube cleaner consisting ci a main trame, axially adjustable supporting rollers carried `on said main :trame and adapted to adjacent tube surfaces, powernieans carried by the main traine, an auxiliary frame pivoted to and depending trom the main traine, a tool carrie-d'by the auxiliary trame and adjustable thereon, means tor adjusting sa'd tool and means l'or loc-hina' said auxiliary trame in its depending position and shock absorbing power transmission means carried by said auxiliary frame. Y

Y. A boiler tube cleaner consisting ot a main trame, an auxiliary frame pivoted to and depending from the main trame, a pon/'eig' source carried by the main 'rame, a tool carried by the auxiliary trame, said tool being adjustable thereon, means for adjust said tool and shock absorbing'pow'er transmission means intermediate said power source and said tool consisting of a casing secured to and movable with the auxiliary trame, a slide movable within the casing, a tool carrying rod having one end extending into the casing and resilient means intermediatesaid slide and said rod for trans" mitting power trom the power source to the tool.

8. A boiler tube cleaner consisting of a main traine, an auxiliary traine pivoted to and depending :trom the main frame, a power source carried by the main frame, a tool carried by the'auxiliary trame, said tool being adjustable thereon, means :tor adjusting said tool and shock absorbing power transmission means intermediate said power source and said tool consisting ot a casing carried by and movable with the auxiliary frame, a slide movable within the casing, said slide having a slot therein, the end walls of which being upturned to provide stops, a tool carrying rod Jlor one end projecting within the casing, a. gear secured to the end of said rod, a leg plate slidable within the casing and in meshing engagement with the gear, said leg plate having a lug projecting through the slot in tue said slide, and resilient means intermediate the opposite laces or" said lug and the respective upturned end walls ot the slot. j

9. le. boiler tube cleaner consisting o1a a main trame, power means carried thereby, an auxiliary traine pivoted to and depending from said main trame, a tool adjustably carried by the auxiliary traine, means for adjusting said tool, axially adjustable supporting means carried by the main trame tor engagement with adjacent tube surfaces and means carried by the main` trame for prevent-ing` lateral displacement ot the traine.

l0. A boiler tube cleaner consisting of a main trame, power means carried thereby, an auxiliary frame pivoted to and depending :from said main frame, a tool adjustably carried by tne auxiliary frame, means for adjusting said tool, axially adjustable supporting means carried by the main frame for engagement with adjacent tube surfaces and means Carried by the main frame for preventing lateral displacement of the frame7 said means consisting of a slotted bar piyotally suspended from the main frame, so that it will project downwardly between adjacent rows of tubes.

l1. A boiler tube Gleaner consisting of a main frame, power means carried thereby, anauxiliary frame pivoted to and depending lfrom the main fra-me, a tooloa-rried by the auxiliary frame and adjustable thereon and means for adjusting said tool, said means consisting of a plurality of pulleys carried by the auxiliary frame, a hand operated driving device carried by the auxiliary frame, a driving` sprocket and a Chain threaded over said `pulleys and said sprocket, the ends of said chain being secured to opposite ends of said tool.

In testimony` whereof I hereunto ali'iX my signature this 4th day of January, 1926.

ERVING HATHAWAY. 

